Having lost twice in a pair of regular season meetings, the Lone Tree boys made sure the third and most important clash with Columbus Community had a different outcome. The Lions enjoyed home cooking in a class 1A preliminary round on Friday and they downed the Wildcats 65-50. 

Columbus got the start they were looking for up 17-12 after one, but the next 16 minutes of game time set the tone for a Lion victory. They outscored the road ‘Cats 35-16 in the second and third quarters to capture a double-digit lead they never saw vanish to close out the postseason win. The Lions were plus 14 in the rebounding margin and was 17 of 24 from the line compared to the Wildcats making just two of 12. Cade Shield hit six of 13 shots for a game-high 20 points and the senior brought in eight boards. Cade Patterson and Tyler Bell chipped in with 13 points a piece. Grant Watson led the blue and white with 15 points, Daniel Martinez had 11, and Tim Hills recorded 10. 

Lone Tree Head Coach Tom Squires tells KCII Sports it all started defensively. “We slowed down three of their top scorers. Something we have been trying to do all year and we were able to do on Friday was pressure defense and get out and run. We got some easy baskets early and the second half we played great on both ends. We shot it well, moved it against their zone, and got it inside to Tyler Bell.”

Columbus closes the year 4-18 and they say goodbye to three seniors in Mason Hills-Carrier, Yahir Ayala, and Marco Martinez. Lone Tree improves to 7-16 and they advance to play Danville (19-2) on the road tonight.